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Assistance with Ukraine’s urgent need to address the environmental catastrophe caused by the Russian invasion is being provided by partners from Japan. The Japan International Cooperation Agency is providing “heavy equipment that allows fast processing of debris from damaged or destroyed structures.” It is also training personal from government partners in the safe handling of asbestos during decontamination and reconstruction efforts. As of January 2025, more than 250,000 buildings and infrastructure elements in Ukraine were partially or completely destroyed. Up to 70% of these structures are thought to contain asbestos material. See: Protect the environment: Japan transfers knowledge and equipment to Ukraine for the safe handling of hazardous asbestos.

A press release issued on March 18, 2025 by the New South Wales (NSW) Environment Protection Agency (EPA) reported that the NSW Land and Environment Court had found the director of Rubbish King Pty Ltd. Adam O’Brien guilty of supplying false or misleading information about the disposal of asbestos waste. The case had been brought by the NSW Environment Protection Authority whose Acting Director of Operations Claire Miles said: “Asbestos can be incredibly harmful if it isn’t handled properly, which is why there are strict conditions around the transport and disposal of asbestos.” See: Waste operator fined $90000 over asbestos waste offences.

A new pilot scheme announced by the Ministry of Environment will provide financial incentives for small farmers in the Czech Republic to remediate asbestos roofing. Applications must be submitted by the middle of 2026; the maximum payout per applicant is 1 million kroons (US$43,560). Commenting on the asbestos removal program, Minister Petr Hladík said: “In the future, we are ready to extend this call to individuals and legal entities.” According to the Czech Association for Asbestos Removal there are more than 7 million tons of asbestos-containing products in the Czech Republic. See: Фермеры в Чехии получат субсидии на утилизацию асбестовых крыш [Farmers in the Czech Republic will receive subsidies for the disposal of asbestos roofs].

The article cited below highlighted the failure of Brazil’s Supreme Court (STF) to deliver a ruling by the published deadline of March 14, 2025 regarding the unconstitutionality of a Goiás state law allowing asbestos mining and exporting to continue in contravention of the country’s 2017 asbestos ban. Criticism of the continued stalemate was expressed by Brazilian asbestos victims’ campaigners, academics and medical experts as well as by international activists. See: Amianto: Último refúgio de mineral cancerígeno em GO segue sem destino definido no STF [Asbestos: Last refuge of carcinogenic mineral in GO remains without a defined destination in the STF].

According to research published by trade unions active in the Moselle-Est region in northeast France: “There are now more asbestos diseases [being diagnosed] than silica diseases... Over the period 2017-2023, 2,773 asbestos-related diseases [ARDs] were recognized as occupational among former miners in Lorraine and the North, compared to 2,176 diseases caused by silica.” The findings were based on data sourced from multiple health insurance funds. See: Les cancers professionnels explosent chez les anciens mineurs: «Nous avons été exposés à des poisons toute notre carrière» [Occupational cancers are exploding among former miners: “We have been exposed to poisons all our careers”].

A study undertaken by the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) on behalf of the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF Kankerbestrijding) identified 3,900 work-related cancer cases in 2021, which constituted more than half of all Dutch cancer cases diagnosed that year. In excess of 1,400 of the occupational cancers were due to asbestos exposures; the majority of these were lung cancer. A spokesperson for the Cancer Society said that these figures, as bad as they are, underestimated the cancer incidence “because only the most common risk factors were examined.” See: Some 7,000 people per year get cancer from their work; Trade union shocked.

A press release issued on March 18, 2025 by Australia’s Community and Public Sector Union commented on recent high-profile articles, all of which were behind pay walls, documenting an epidemic of asbestos-related diseases amongst employees of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). According to Jocelyn Gammie, the CSPU’s ABC Section Secretary, the union is working closely with the ABC “to ensure they provide support to current and former staff who may be reeling from this news, or worse, dealing with the tragic consequences of asbestos related disease.” See: Historic Asbestos Exposures at ABC.

Over the past decade, 1,000 asbestos incidents and 44 fires were recorded in the UK Parliament, a UNESCO World Heritage site which is considered to be at high risk of a major fire due to the deteriorating condition of its buildings. Commenting on the seriousness of the situation, Lord Peter Hain warmed of a “Notre-Dame style inferno” should delays in restoration work continue. According to a report seen by Lord Hain: “management surveys were continuing to identify and monitor the presence of asbestos-containing materials to address whether they needed to be continually monitored, or removed if at risk of disturbance.” See: Fire could ‘burn down’ UK parliament and asbestos is rife, surveys show.

As people in Brazil awaited the final decision in a long-standing case over illegal asbestos exports from Brazil, Supreme Court Justice Nunes Marques threw a spanner into the deliberations by claiming he needed more time to study the case (ADI 6200). Coincidentally, an éxpose by the Globo organization was circulating which showed the same Judge partying in September 2024 with Ronaldo Caiado, the Governor of the asbestos mining state of Goiás. See: Ministro Nunes Marques pede vista em Sessão do STF e adia decisão sobre fechamento da SAMA em Minaçu [Minister Nunes Marques requests review of STF session and postpones decision on closing SAMA in Minaçu].

Public support is growing in France for trade union calls for government action on the asbestos-in-schools scandal; almost all the country’s schools are contaminated with deteriorating asbestos-containing building material. At a union press conference on March 13, Guislaine David, general secretary of the leading primary school union FSU-Snuipp said: “We want to raise awareness about the issue of asbestos in schools and educational establishments… It's a health issue for the students and all the staff.” See: Amiante dans les écoles: une «volonté politique forte est indispensable» pour agir, alerte des syndicats enseignants [Asbestos in schools: “strong political will is essential” for action, warn teachers' unions].

Last week, a Milan Court deemed the Ministry of Defense (MoD) guilty and ordered it to pay compensation to the family of mesothelioma victim Francesco Maria Cairo. The court-ordered penalty for the MoD was a lump sum of €285,000 (US$311,275) and a monthly pension of €2,000 (US$2,185) to Francesco’s widow. The deceased had been exposed to asbestos during his military service. Once again, the Ministry of Defense was criticized for failing to take action to prevent toxic workplace exposures to asbestos. See: Amianto, il ministero della Difesa condannato a risarcire vedova di un ex militare morto per mesotelioma [Asbestos, the Ministry of Defense ordered to compensate widow of a former soldier who died of mesothelioma].

A cohort study of 13,481 Frenchmen occupationally exposed to asbestos revealed a significant association between asbestos exposure and esophageal cancer, with a 3% increased risk for every 10 fiber-years/mL increase. The researcher also found that the presence of pleural plaques was associated with a 2.8-fold increased risk of esophageal cancer after adjustment for asbestos exposure and smoking. See: Cette découverte sur l'amiante change notre compréhension du cancer de l'œsophage [This discovery about asbestos changes our understanding of esophageal cancer].

At a March 11, 2025 cabinet meeting in Nairobi chaired by Kenya’s President William Ruto, a nationwide plan to remove asbestos from all private and public buildings was approved. This measure was adopted to protect public health and safety. In a press statement about the project, it was stated that “the National Environment Management Authority will oversee the safe removal, disposal, and handling of asbestos.” Local authorities around the country were urged to set up designated disposal sites and property owners were advised that they would have to pay for the decontamination work. See: Cabinet approves nationwide asbestos removal from all public, private buildings.

Jose Virgilio Fernandez, the owner of the Rhode Island Safety Environment Training Center, has been sentenced to two years’ probation for claiming payment for 20 individuals who, he alleged, had attended and completed an Environmental Protection Administration (EPA)-approved abatement training program between 2021 and 2023. In fact, the only person who attended these courses was an undercover EPA agent. On October 1, 2025, Fernandez pleaded guilty to a federal charge of making false statements. See: School Owner Sentenced for Falsifying Asbestos Removal Training Documents.

In the March 12, 2025 issue of the HSE ebulletin there was an update detailing the state of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE’s) schools’ asbestos inspection program. Inspections carried out in 2023-24 showed “that most schools are complying with their legal duties and have effective systems in place to manage and monitor the condition of asbestos-containing materials.” Common problems included: insufficient asbestos training for members of staff and contractors; inadequate preparation for emergency work; lack of vigor in checking contractors’ credentials. See: HSE inspections of schools to assess the management of asbestos.

Serious concerns have been expressed about the risk to public health posed by fresh produce grown in the 2024 earthquake zone which may be contaminated with asbestos fibers. A Turkish asbestos removal specialist warned the public "Do not consume without washing.” Uncontrolled asbestos removal work in earthquake-affected areas is spreading contamination so that local people and agricultural products from the earthquake areas are affected. By failing to regulate the work of contractors and developers, the authorities are allowing a second disaster to occur. See: Soframızda Asbest Olabilir! [We may have asbestos on our table!].

After an eight-year wait, Brazilian and international asbestos watchers were optimistic that the Supreme Court’s (STF’s) definitive ruling on the illegality of asbestos exports would be handed down by March 14. As has happened so many times before, the delivery of an STF asbestos decision was upended. This time, the impasse was caused by Judge Kassio Nunes Marques, an appointee of the disgraced former President Jair Bolsonaro. Marques said he needed more time to consider the arguments of case ADI 6200. As he has been a STF Judge since November 5, 2020, one wonders why he had not found time to study the case files? There might be 103,000,000 reasons for this. [Read full article]

Two initiatives have come to the fore recently highlighting the human, environmental and ecological tragedy which has befallen Slovenia's picturesque Soča Valley. From 1921, this area was the heartland of the country's asbestos-cement industry with a sucession of companies routinely exposing thousands of workers and residents to carcinogenic asbestos fibers. A great debt is owed to author/researcher Jasmina Jerant and documentary photographer and filmmaker Manca Juvan who cast fresh eyes over an old scandal. Using their unique talents, they succeded in thrusting vital questions onto local, national and international agendas and once again forced us to question the compromises ordinary people are forced to make to provide for their families. [Read full article]

Brazilian asbestos, banned at home, continues to poison millions of people in India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe etc. whilst simultaneously enriching Brazilian stakeholders. In 2023, international sales of Brazilian asbestos were worth $103,000,000, making Brazil the world’s 2nd largest exporter. Deadlines published by the Supreme Court (STF) for ending the legal limbo in which exports of this prohibited substance continued were inexplicably postponed in August and October 2024. On the eve of STF proceedings which could end the constitutional impasse, global campaigners issued a press release urging the Court to end this “immoral and unjustifiable double standard.” [Read full article]

There is a special place in hell reserved for the panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit which on November 27, 1991 derailed an incipient US ban on asbestos. The knock-on effect of the verdict was that asbestos use remained legal for another 33 years, creating yet more asbestos victims. It was with a pronounced sense of déjà vu that on Friday, February 21, 2025 I learned that the same court had acceded to demands from the Trump administration to pause implementation of a 2024 national asbestos ban. Under the administration of Republican President George W. Bush the asbestos cancer risk to Americans was ignored in 1991; knowing what we do about Donald Trump, is it likely that the outcome will be different this time around? [Read full article]

A statement issued on February 13th conveyed news of yet another win by Indonesian campaigners against asbestos vested interests. After six months of hearings, motions and deliberations, Chief Judge of the Central Jakarta District Court Marper Pandiangan threw out legal arguments by the asbestos manufacturers association (FICMA) which had sought huge damages from civil society groups following a March 2024 Supreme Court ruling mandating warning labels for asbestos roofing products. FICMA has until the middle of March to file an appeal. [Read full article]

News that the Republic of Moldova banned asbestos late last year must have sent a seismic shock to asbestos producers in Russia and Kazakhstan. Although Moldova had in recent years consumed little or no asbestos – in 2022 Moldova imported a mere $16,400 worth of asbestos, 80% of which came from Russia – the elimination of yet another national market will almost certainly intensify the high level of anxiety being experienced by asbestos stakeholders. Throughout the region, asbestos markets are looking increasingly unstable with mounting challenges of pro-asbestos rhetoric and growing awareness among national governments of the high costs being incurred by society for industry profits. [Read full article]

In the run-up to the glitzy 2025 awards season which sees recognition for stars of stage and screen, the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS) is acknowledging impactful work of a different kind. Winners of the Screen Actors Guild, the Academy Awards, the Golden Globe and Critics Choice receive imposing and tasteful statuettes to mark their successes. Not so the “winners” of the IBAS Devil’s Dust Awards 2025 whose ruthless promotion of an acknowledged carcinogen and/or suppression of victims’ rights have earned them a rather revolting accolade: a virtual avatar appropriately nicknamed the Lucifer. With so many potential candidates, it was hard to chose this year’s “winners.” The entities named in this years Dishonors List come from Brazil, France & Indonesia. Want to know more? Read on. [Read full article]

As recently as 2020, Russia was the world’s leading supplier of asbestos, accounting for 65% of global output. A mere three years later this figure had fallen to 48% with Russian producers facing falling demand and increasing competition. In the December 2024 newsletter produced by Uralasbest, Russia’s second biggest asbestos conglomerate, its General Director explained that among the challenges the company faced in 2024 were bureaucratic hurdles and logistical obstructions – i.e. persistent and continuing disruptions to asbestos cargo rail shipments. What he failed to mention, however, was the progress being achieved by global campaigners which has “significantly reduced the possibility of exporting chrysotile asbestos… [and created] the crisis faced by asbestos-producing businesses.” [Read full article]

Against the backdrop of a continuing decrease in global asbestos consumption, work to quantify and address toxic industrial legacies was continued this year by grassroots campaigners, civil society stakeholders, national, regional and international authorities. Amongst high-profile topics debated in multiple jurisdictions were the asbestos contamination of schools, water delivery systems and the built environment; the risks posed by asbestos in personal hygiene products and cosmetics; and the unregulated and unsafe dumping of asbestos waste. Technological developments and the building of infrastructure by asbestos stakeholders made manifest their intention to continue profiting from asbestos sales despite the health hazards. It is clear that despite our many successes, much work remains to be done. [Read full article]

In light of many positive comments he has made over the last 30+ years about the efficacy of asbestos – eg. “asbestos is the greatest fireproofing material ever used” – international campaigners have been discussing what the new Presidency of Donald Trump could mean for the global asbestos dialogue. Two US experts consulted by the author of this article felt that given the small amount of asbestos used in the US now and the pending abolition of most uses, Trump would have little interest in attacking the new asbestos prohibitions being introduced. One can but hope. [Read full article]

Last week, global ban asbestos groups issued a joint press release in defence of Indonesian activists at the Independent Consumer Protection Institute (LPKSM), the Yasa Nata Budi Foundation and the Indonesian Ban Asbestos Network (INABAN) working to protect the population from deadly exposures to asbestos. In a blatant disregard for occupational and public health, the Fiber Cement Manufacturing Association – a powerful and well-resourced trade association representing the interests of the asbestos industry – is suing the campaigners for “massive damages” after a Supreme Court ruling upheld their petition to mandate labelling on asbestos products. [Read full article]

Mobilization on the asbestos hazard has been ongoing in Pacific Islands Countries and Territories for a number of years with work by personnel from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme and partnering organizations bringing positive results, such as the 2024 ban on asbestos imports and use in the Republic of Nauru (gazetted on October 10 and 30, respectively). Significant developments in protecting populations from deadly asbestos exposures have also been achieved in Niue, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. In the shadow of the UN’s 29th Climate Change Conference, it is clearer than ever that asbestos technology is neither sustainable nor acceptable and must be banned. [Read full article]

The International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS) was founded in November 1999 by Laurie Kazan-Allen in collaboration with colleagues in North and Latin America, Asia, Europe and Australia to achieve justice for the injured and coalesce the global fight to ban asbestos. Over the next 25 years, this virtual consortium of activists organized, sponsored or participated in events and initiated or supported projects to achieve these objectives on six continents. The article marking IBAS’ 25th anniversary recalled the challenges faced, the memories amassed, the victories achieved and the setbacks faced. Input from global ban asbestos campaigners included in this review delineated the “IBAS Effect” as they experienced it. [Read full article]

On November 19 & 20, 2024, delegates from Southeast Asia, Australia and Japan convened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for a meeting organized by the Asian Ban Asbestos Network (ABAN), its international and local partners. At the completion of the event, a joint press release was issued calling on the Malaysian Government “to urgently impose an outright ban on all types of asbestos products being manufactured in the country and halt any further imports of chrysotile asbestos fibre.” According to Malaysian trade union official David Arul, asbestos use “persists in several Malaysian industries, exposing countless workers to preventable harm.” [Read full article]

Some might think that the holding last month (October 2024) of a meeting in Russia to progress peace and stability amongst nations belonging to the BRICS coalition might be deemed inappropriate given Russia’s continuing attacks on Ukraine. Nevertheless, representatives of 35 countries and 6 international organizations turned up in droves to the 16th annual BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. The participants were addressed by President Putin who spoke of “mutual respect,” “open dialogue,” and “sovereign policies.” A mysterious article, which appeared and disappeared after a few hours, however, revealed that Russia’s motivation for the creation and support of BRICS was totally self-serving, citing its importance in expanding foreign markets for home-grown asbestos. [Read full article]

In recent weeks there has been a flurry of media coverage in newspapers and online about various aspects of the UK’s asbestos epidemic. Simultaneously, the Daily Mail launched a campaign – Asbestos: Britain's Hidden Killer – to establish a digital national asbestos database to prevent avoidable exposures as part of “a long-term strategic plan to eradicate asbestos risk from British infrastructure.” It’s pretty damning that more than a century after the asbestos hazard was first acknowledged by the British Government, so little has been done. One can but hope that the new 335 MPs, who constitute a majority of the House of Commons, will be more proactive on this deadly workplace hazard than their predecessors. [Read full article]

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Demonstration in Woluwe Park, Brussels, 2006

Under cloudy skies, members of Belgian and French Asbestos Victims' Associations from Dunkirk and Bourgogne marched side-by-side in the third annual demonstration organized by ABEVA, the Belgian Association of Asbestos Victims. Erik Jonckheere, ABEVA's Co-chairman, condemned the government which still refuses to recognize the plight of the asbestos injured.

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